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Deacons: Servant Leaders, Catholic Heroes

No matter where I travel, the deacons I meet never fail to impress me. A recent trip to Amarillo, Texas, only added to my already overwhelmingly favorable impression of these dedicated men. Though they come from all walks of life, they share a common desire to serve the Church, often in very radical ways. In the 86 “mission dioceses” served by Catholic Extension, deacons are a source of stability and stimulus for the Church.

The 48 deacons spread throughout the geographically vast Diocese of Amarillo help keep Catholic communities strong.

One could argue that deacons perhaps play an even more significant role in “mission dioceses,” areas where vast distance, limited financial resources or extreme priest shortages are common challenges. Luckily, there is no shortage of spirit in these “mission dioceses,” and these deacons, in a very special way, embody that spirited Catholic sensibility that we at Catholic Extension so often encounter.

With 48 deacons, the Diocese of Amarillo has one of the highest deacon-per-capita ratios in the country. As I traveled across the plains of the Texas panhandle, visiting Catholic Extension-funded ministries, the incredible impact of the deacons was everywhere to be seen. These deacons are not working in cushy ministries. Rather, they are in the trenches.

Deacon Jesse, who ministers to prisoners, wears a permanent smile.

We accompanied Deacons Mark and Jesse to Clements Unit Prison, where the average inmate’s sentence is 65 years. They took us inside the prison. It is a tough place, but the deacons are there to bring hope, dignity, faith and rehabilitation. They usually spend six days a week in this environment. I couldn’t help but notice that Deacons Mark and Jesse never shed their smiles during the visit, even when we entered the cell block in the maximum security unit, where the most troubled inmates are housed. Later, as we passed the “chow hall,” one young man, with a shaved head and tattooed neck, recognized Deacon Jesse. “Hey man,” the inmate said with delight at the sight of the deacon, “how have you been?” Deacon Jesse confidently walked over and greeted him with a smile, a warm handshake, and a pat on the back. “Good to see you,” Deacon Jesse said warmly, “I’ll come around again soon!”

Catholic Extension provides funding to make this ministry possible, and these deacons stretch that support as far as they can, serving thousands of inmates throughout the diocese each year. They shared many stories of conversion and reconciliation, which are undoubtedly the direct result of their hard work.

Deacon Wayne has been pivotal in helping the Church grow in the northern most region of the Texas Panhandle.

An hour’s drive north on a tumble weed-strewn road led us to Sunray, Texas, where we met Deacon Wayne at Christ the King Church. The mission church was built with Catholic Extension’s support years ago, and it currently receives a small operating grant from Catholic Extension of $1,500 per year to help them make ends meet. Deacon Wayne has lived in Sunray since 1947 and was a member of the first class of deacons for the diocese. His dedication has enabled the Catholic community to thrive in this humble, working-class town where agriculture and oil are the primary industries. Deacon Wayne has witnessed the parish grow from about 13 families to 75 families. Today, it is a young and still-growing parish, consisting of mostly families, with nearly 100 children in religious education programs. Deacon Wayne is happy to see that he is one of the few parishioners with gray hair. He helped keep the parish afloat some years ago when it only had $35 in the bank and was struggling to keep the lights on. He was a stable presence during the years when there was no regular priest assigned to the parish. He helped the minority Catholic population gain unprecedented acceptance in Sunray by developing strong relationships with the seven other Christian churches in the town. Thanks to his steady and friendly presence, the Catholic faith is growing here. In fact, the faith in Sunray is so strong and the bonds among Catholics so deep that “it goes beyond family,” says Deacon Wayne.

Throughout the years Catholic Extension has helped fund the education and training of hundreds of deacons like Wayne, Jesse and Mark in dioceses across the country. When I think of all the deacons Catholic Extension has financially supported throughout the country, and consider their many achievements as they strive to anchor the faith community as well as extend it, I realize how fantastically lucrative Catholic Extension’s return on investment has been for the Church.